AboutDr Alan Galbraith Expertise I can answer most questions on drugs, both medical and "recreational". Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.
Experience I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease.
Organizations Institute of Biology, London.
Publications Principal author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" 4th Edition published in November 2003 by Pearson Education, Australia.
Expert: Dr Alan Galbraith Date: 5/15/2006 Subject: Xanax xr vers. regular Xanax
Question Dear-Dr. Galbraith,
Thank you for the prompt answer. I have another question regarding the pills I take daily.
First off, let me state all of them and the strength. These are the pills I take in the morning: amphetamine salt mix(Adderall XR)60mg, Escitalopram(Lexapro)10mg, and Alprazolam ER(Xanax XR)3mg.
At night I take Temazepam(Restoral)30mg. Those are all prescribed by my psychiatrist. I also take saw palmetto, glucosamine, and a mens multi-vitamin.
Now to the point; recently I have been having brief lapses of odd neuro.and psych. problems, which either they are, or just like drug intoxication. I realize that I am taking quite a bit of potent drugs and it is obvious that I am having side effects from the pills, but I have been taking these drugs for a long time.
These "episodes" last anywhere from 20 minutes to about 3 hours. I will instantly seem to be very intoxicated, slurred speech, will not be able to complete sentences, glazed-half shut eyes, poor motor control;coordination, and I don't even realize it most of the time. If and when I do notice, it's over. I'm right back to normal again.
So I decided to stop taking most of the pills and keep a journal of the day. As of right now it's been about 36 hours since I've taken all of the normal medicine,except for the otc drugs and the Adderall. I know it's very dangerous to quit benzos' cold turkey, but I have done it before and I'll keep a Restoral on me.
I'll be doing this untill the 16th of this month. That's when I'll be seeing a neurologist.My psychiatrist doesn't know about me stopping the meds, but knows about these-"episodes". He thinks it's something like a seizure, but they were only happening after several days of insomnia, so he switched the Restoral(temazepam) to every night instead of prn. He also suggested an e.e.g. or what ever it is to check brain waves.
I don't think it's the meds, niether does my Dr., but everyone else, including my partner thinks I'm over medicated. I hope it is the medication because it's rather scary to find out it's not, I've had a lot of head trauma.
So Doc, any ideas? Any feedback would be awesome this has been bothering, actually scarring me. M y partner thinks i'm over reacting and doesn't realize how dangerous it is about the benzos.
Thank you for your time and sharing your knowledge.
Rich----------------------
Followup To
Question -
Hi Dr. Galbraith
I have been taking Xanax off and on again for years now. Recentaly I switched from 1mg tid to 3xr once in the morning. The xr's don;t seem to be as potent so I tried chewing 1 and still did't feel it's effects much at all. Is their something in them that will cause the drug not to work if not swallowed whole ? If not, should my Dr. increase the dose? I also take Adderall xr so would rather just taking pills once.
Answer -
Dear Rich
It is generally not a good idea to chew XR tablets as it can upset the absorption and cause overdose problems, but this depends on hjow the tablrets were manufactured. From what you say it seems that chewing has not upset the absorption as the effect is the same as when not chewing. Drugs like Xanax do tend to lose there effectiveness with time and trhis necessitates an increase in dose. However, please bear in mind that Xanax is addictive and it it is not a good idea to take it more than 10-14 days consecutively.
Although there is no rerported interaction between Adderal and Xanax, I do not think, it is a good idea to take therse drugs together.
Hacve a chat to your prescriber regarding these issues.
Regards
Dr Alan Galbraith
Answer Dear Rich
I have to say thet the symptoms that you describe are most likely coming from the benzos. I cannot believe that this has not been said top you. They are typical symptoms of benzo overload. I find iot hard to accept that you are precribed alprazolam ER and temazepam at night. It is not recommended that different benzos should be taken during a course of therapy. Cold turkey with benzos is not usually dangerous but a gradual weaning of the drugs is the usual. I feel strongly that if ypou cease both benzos that your symptoms will inprove. I do not want to be an alarmist but long term use of benzos, especially with high doses can cause permanent brain damage, particularly with the memory regions of the brain.
You really should be seeing a doctor who understands benzos better that the one you are now attending. I will repeat that your symptoms are typical of overusage of benzos and cannot believe that your psychiatrist is unaware of these problems.
I have not mentioned your other drugs as I think that the major problem is with the alprazolam and temazepam.
